iPhoto won't import photos or videos from iPhone 4

Question

iPhoto won't import photos or videos from iPhone 4

Although iPhoto worked fine with my iPhone 3G, it won't import any photos or videos from my iPhone 4. There are many problems including:
1. Never gets past "Loading photos..."
2. Attempts the import but fails due to "Unreadable files"
3. CPU loop. iPhoto is stuck "Not Responding" for hours.

I have tried using iPhoto '08 (7.1.5) on a Mac Pro and iPhoto '09 (8.1.2) on a Unibody MacBook Pro.

OK, to be complete, the first import of about 10 files to my Mac Pro worked. But the subsequent import attempts of 72 files have given me all of the problems. After countless attempts I was able to import the photos a few at a time but just one of the videos. But I don't consider this to be a "success".

Mac Pro 2.8GHz quad 6GB, Mac OS X (10.6.4), iPhone 4

Posted on Jun 25, 2010 8:42 AM

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Answer 1

DJDaveo

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2010 10:48 PM in response to ClassicalDave

I'm having nearly the same issue.

When I plug in my iPhone4, iPhoto will launch nearly instantly. However, it will take upwards of a minute before iPhoto recognizes the iPhone. A few times, it will not load any thumbnails, but will show the dashed outlines of the photos.

After mounting & un-mounting a few times to get the thumbnails to load, at best half of the photos I select to import will actually import. I receive a message stating that the files are an unrecognizable format (all .jpg's taken with the back facing lens). More recent attempts will not import any photos.

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Answer 2

Jun 25, 2010 10:53 PM in response to DJDaveo

In your Applications folder there should be an app called Image Capture. It worked great for me for downloading videos and pics from my iphone.

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Answer 3

monadh

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2010 11:34 PM in response to ClassicalDave

I tried the image capture and it still wouldn't get the photos. Maybe I'm illiterate, but I would like to be able to download these. The camera is one of the reasons why I bought the iPhone 4.

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Answer 4

Jun 26, 2010 2:30 AM in response to ClassicalDave

I also tried Image Capture (on both machines). It didn't work either. So I concluded that the problem must be with the iPhone. I deleted all of the videos that couldn't be imported. So far, I've only tried a few new photos and videos, but iPhoto was able to import them. Perhaps there was some corruption on the iPhone. Gulp.

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Answer 5

Jun 26, 2010 4:08 PM in response to ClassicalDave

Having the same issue on my 3Gs running iOS 4 with iPhoto 8.12.

iPhoto shows dashed outlines of my photos. If you try to import them, iPhoto says the picture format isn't recognized.

I deleted all the photos off the phone, but upon relaunch of iPhoto, it still shows the same empty dashed outlines of the photos I just deleted.

I've deleted the plist pref for iPhoto as well and still no love. Does the same thing on my MBP running 10.6.4.

I'm going to try a restore of the iPhone and see if that helps.

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Answer 6

Jun 26, 2010 5:41 PM in response to ClassicalDave

same issue here.

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Answer 7

TaraZ

Level 1

0 points

Jun 26, 2010 5:49 PM in response to ClassicalDave

Having same issues w/iPhone 4. Not able to import pics/videos to Mac using iPhoto 8 (7.1.5), Picasa for Mac, or Image Capture. I cannot upload them as a whole group, or any individually. Hope there will be an update to fix this soon.

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Answer 8

Jun 26, 2010 6:02 PM in response to ClassicalDave

same here. outlined pix in iphoto but it says Unrecognized format when trying to import them. This just started after I upgraded my 3GS to iOS4.

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Answer 9

Jun 26, 2010 6:11 PM in response to m7hammond1

i got it to import! I originally just moved the iphoto cache into my desktop but that didn't work. I had to actually move it to trash. Unfortunately, I also rebooted the iphone (which I have rebooted many times since loading iOS4 on it) so it was one of the two that fixed it.... good luck all!

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Answer 10

Jun 26, 2010 8:33 PM in response to m7hammond1

Thanks, that fixes the problem. I had dragged the Cache.db to the desktop, but I hadn't put it in the trash and emptied it. When I trashed it and iPhoto immediately saw my photos and the empty thumbnails were gone.

So, go to user-->library-->caches-->com.apple.iPhoto-->Cache.db and trash it. Seems to fix the issue.

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Answer 11

mrooty

Level 1

0 points

Jul 2, 2010 7:52 AM in response to Bryan Goesling1

This worked for me as well. Having the same exact problem. I first tried just removing the cache.db, and then restarted iphoto, but that didn't work. Next I removed the cache.db AND rebooted my iphone 4. That combo did the trick. Now, I don't know if just rebooting the phone would have also worked. But I can live with that for now. Thanks!

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Answer 12

creperie

Level 1

0 points

Jul 2, 2010 11:21 AM in response to mrooty

I tried emptying the iPhoto cache to the trash and restarted my iPhone. It did not solve the problem for me. I also tried Image Capture, and it does not recognize the file format either, just like iPhoto.

Any other possibilities for fixing this issue?

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Answer 13

Jul 2, 2010 11:30 AM in response to Bryan Goesling1

Tried this... Deleting the iPhoto cache...

And I still get his error:
http://imgur.com/WsBhQ.jpg

In Image Capture:
http://imgur.com/ydKeV.jpg

I have to use PhoneView to get my pictures/HD video off the iPhone 4. I guess if no one knows the problem (the first 3-4 times it synced just like my original iPhone and 3G did thousands of times before) then I'll try restoring from my iPhone backup... I just hope it doesn't restore the problem.

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Answer 14

Jul 2, 2010 11:57 AM in response to ClassicalDave

Steven Richason

I'm having the same problem. I've also tried all the recommend solutions. Still not working for me

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Answer 15

marweiss

Level 1

0 points

Jul 2, 2010 1:21 PM in response to ClassicalDave

I am having this problem too. I imported hundreds with our iPhone 3's but the 4 wont recognize the photos.. I hope to work it out, one of the highlights for me on the new phone.

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